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Taking the stairs instead of the lift could cut the risk of early death by up to 40 per cent, a major study has found.

Research into almost half a million participants found that regularly taking the stairs was linked to longer lives and stronger hearts.

Scientists from the University of East Anglia found that short bursts of activity are associated with a 24 per cent reduced risk of dying from any cause and a 39 per cent lower chance of succumbing to heart disease.

The research suggested that six flights of stairs per day may deliver the greatest benefit. However, experts say that climbing any amount of stairs has a meaningful impact on heart health.

Experts say more patients should be encouraged to give the lift or escalator a miss in favour of the stairs, in order to tackle rising levels of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the UK.

Every year, the condition - which refers to diseases of the heart and blood vessels - claims around 170,000 lives.

However, Prof Vassilios Vassiliou, a cardiovascular medicine expert at the University of East Anglia and the study's lead author, says the disease is 'largely preventable through a healthy lifestyle' - in particular, regular exercise.

'Taking the stairs is a practical and often overlooked way to build physical activity into daily life,' says Prof Vassiliou.

Climbing stairs instead of using the lift could cut the risk of early death by nearly 40 per cent

'We wanted to better understand how this everyday activity could have life-saving potential.'

The study - published in the American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs - analysed data from nine studies involving more than 480,000 participants over a 14-year period.

The study included both healthy individuals and those with a history of heart problems, aged between 35 and 84-years-old.

The researchers found that taking the stairs not only reduced the risk of premature death from all causes, it was also associated with a lower risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke.

Experts say the short burst of activity has such a profound impact on health because a concerning number of Britons get little-to-no exercise.

Physical inactivity accounts for around one in six deaths in the UK, according to the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.

'Unlike going to the gym or doing a workout, climbing the stairs is something you can easily fit into your day at home, at work or when you're out,' said Dr Sophie Paddock, a cardiologist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

'It's a good option for people who don't have much time or easy access to exercise.

'Even brief bursts of physical activity have beneficial health impacts, and short bouts of stair climbing should be an achievable target to integrate into daily routines.'

One study included in the review suggested that climbing around six flights of stairs per day may deliver the greatest benefit.

But researchers say the 'optimal dose' requires further investigation and even small changes had a 'measurable impact'.

It comes as the number of young people hitting NHS exercise guidelines in England continues to plummet, with many spending between six and 10 hours a day sitting and engaging in sedentary behaviours at work and then at home.

The NHS say adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity such as hiking, jogging or playing tennis.

Earlier this month, research found that reducing vigorous exercise by just a few minutes a day raises the risk of cancer by 15 per cent, according to experts at University College London.

It means choosing to take the lift instead of climbing the stairs could prove deadly.

Another 2026 study found that every additional hour spent sitting down may raise the risk of developing and dying from a number of cancers.

The team at the University of East Anglia concluded: 'With more than a quarter of adults worldwide failing to meet recommended activity levels, choosing to take the stairs offers a realistic, scalable intervention.

'Encouraging people to take the stairs in workplaces, public buildings and homes could form part of a wider strategy to reduce cardiovascular disease at population level.'